Relationship between changes in the intercellular matrix and morphometric parameters of the respiratory section of the lungs during operations with artificial circulation

Aim of the study was to establish the interrelations of morphological parameters of the intercellular matrix and the respiratory part of the lungs in the modeling of cardiac surgery with artificial circulation in the experiment. Material and methods. Male domestic sheep (n = 6) underwent a 1.5-hour artificial circulation procedure. During the preoperative preparation phase and the post-operative period, the animals were on artificial lung ventilation. 60 minutes after the restoration of natural circulation, lung fragments were collected for histological examination. On sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin, as well as by van Gieson, the tissue parameters of the respiratory part of the lungs were evaluated using computer morphometry: the average linear intercept of the air spaces of the acini (MLI) and the volumetric density of the interalveolar septa (Vv_sep), as well as the specific volume of collagen fibers of the intercellular matrix. The content of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9) in the lungs was assessed using immunohistochemistry. The relationships between the studied parameters were evaluated using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results. In the lungs of sheep after the procedure of artificial circulation, histological signs of emphysematous expansion of acini and destruction of collagen fibers of interalveolar septa were noted, positive immunohistochemical reaction to MMP-2 and MMP-9. Statistically significant correlations were found between the intensity of immune staining for matrix metalloproteinases and the specific volume of collagen fibers (r_s = –0,706, p = 0,0152 for MMP-2 and r_s = –0,779, p = 0,0047 for MMP-9), as well as the structural parameters of the respiratory department (r_s =0,752, p = 0,0076 for MLI and MMP-2, r_s = 0,861, p = 0,0007 for MLI and MMP-9, r_s= –0,738, p = 0,0095 for Vv_sep and MMP-2, r_s= –0,843, p = 0,0011 for Vv_sep and MMP-9). Statistically significant relationship also has been revealed between Vv_sep and the specific volume of collagen fibers (r_s = 0,709, p = 0,0146). Conclusions. Destruction of the collagen fibers of the lung interstitium under the action of matrix metalloproteinases is associated with the development of emphysematous expansion of the pulmonary acini in cardiac surgery with artificial circulation.

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